Introduction
Novak Djokovic wife is Jelena Djokovic, a Serbian businesswoman and philanthropist born on June 17, 1986, in Belgrade, Serbia.
Novak Djokovic is one of tennis history’s most successful players, known for his record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, 101 ATP-level singles titles, and long reign at world No. 1.
Away from the tennis court, Jelena has built an identity of her own through education, business, philanthropy, and family life. She is the co-founder and global CEO of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, an organization focused on early childhood education and helping children from disadvantaged communities in Serbia.
Jelena and Novak have known each other since their teenage years and began dating in 2005. Their relationship developed while Novak was building his professional tennis career and Jelena was pursuing her education abroad. After years together, they married in Montenegro in 2014 and later became parents to two children, Stefan and Tara.
This article looks at Jelena’s background, education, career, relationship with Novak, wedding, children, social media presence, and life beyond the spotlight.
Who Is Jelena Djokovic?
Jelena Djokovic, formerly Jelena Ristic, is a Serbian businesswoman, philanthropist, and education advocate. She was born on June 17, 1986, in Belgrade, Serbia, and grew up in the Serbian capital. She has an older sister, Marija Ristic, who has also been involved with the Novak Djokovic Foundation.
Jelena’s academic journey played an important role in shaping her professional life. She wanted to study abroad and worked hard academically to make that possible. In 2005, she moved to Milan, Italy, and enrolled at Bocconi University. She later earned a degree in business administration and management.
Her education continued after university. Jelena studied at the International University of Monaco, where she earned a master’s degree in luxury goods and services. Her academic background gave her experience in management and business while also preparing her for later work in philanthropy and education.
Although she became widely known because of her marriage to Novak, Jelena has developed a public career independent of her husband. She has worked in business and has taken an especially strong interest in early childhood development, parenting, education, and philanthropy.
The Novak Djokovic Foundation describes Jelena as someone with a strong passion for early childhood education. The organization currently lists her as its co-founder and global CEO.
Her public profile is therefore broader than simply being the wife of a famous athlete. Jelena is involved in an organization that works with children, parents, educators, and communities, making education and child development central themes in her professional life.
Jelena Djokovic’s Career & Professional Life
Jelena Djokovic has developed a career around business, philanthropy, education, and family-focused initiatives. One of her most important roles is serving as global CEO of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which she co-founded with Novak.
The foundation was established in 2007 with a focus on improving early childhood development and education. Its work includes supporting preschools, training educators, assisting parents, and developing programs for children in disadvantaged communities.
Jelena has been closely involved in developing educational initiatives through the organization. The foundation’s Online Academy describes her as a leader whose passion for early childhood development has helped shape programs for children, educators, parents, and young people.
One example is the “Support, Not Perfection” program, which provides workshops and resources for parents. The initiative has been developed with specialists and has been offered through parenting centers and the foundation’s online platform.
Jelena has also been involved in Original Magazine, a platform connected with the foundation and designed to highlight people and ideas that can inspire positive change. The foundation’s online academy lists her as a director of Original Magazine.
Before focusing heavily on philanthropy, Jelena also had professional experience outside the foundation. Reports have noted that she worked for an oil company before devoting herself more fully to charitable work and supporting the foundation.
As for net worth, there is no reliable, independently verified public figure for Jelena Djokovic’s personal net worth. Many celebrity websites publish estimates, but those numbers are not supported by sufficiently strong public financial records. It is therefore more accurate to say that her exact personal net worth is not publicly established.
How Did Novak Djokovic and Jelena Djokovic Meet?
Novak Djokovic and Jelena Djokovic’s relationship began long before Novak became one of the biggest names in world tennis. The couple first met while attending the same high school in Serbia. Both were connected to the school’s sports environment, and their friendship eventually developed into a romantic relationship.
Their relationship officially became romantic in 2005. At the time, Novak was still in the early stages of his professional tennis career, while Jelena was beginning an international educational journey.
Distance became one of the early challenges of their relationship. Jelena moved to Milan to study at Bocconi University, while Novak was traveling extensively for tennis tournaments. Their relationship therefore required considerable planning and effort.
Jelena has spoken about how difficult it could be for them to see each other during those early years. International travel was expensive, and Novak’s professional career demanded constant movement. The couple nevertheless found ways to maintain their relationship.
After Jelena completed her studies, she later moved to Monte Carlo, where Novak was based. Their relationship became more established as Novak’s tennis career accelerated.
The couple eventually became engaged in September 2013. By then, Novak had already established himself as one of the world’s leading tennis players, while Jelena had built her own academic and professional identity.
Their engagement came after years of dating and demonstrated how their teenage connection had developed into a long-term partnership.
The couple’s story is notable because their relationship began before the fame and financial success that later came with Novak’s tennis career. They experienced the difficult early stages of professional sport together before becoming one of tennis’s best-known married couples.
Marriage & Wedding Details
Novak Djokovic and Jelena Ristic married on July 10, 2014, in Montenegro. Their wedding took place at the coastal resort of Sveti Stefan, with the religious ceremony held at the Church of Saint Stephen.
The wedding came only days after Novak defeated Roger Federer to win his second Wimbledon championship. Novak had dedicated his Wimbledon victory to his future wife and their future child, making the period especially meaningful for the couple.
The wedding was relatively private, with security and confidentiality measures surrounding the event. Reports described the celebration as a two-day occasion at the Adriatic coastal location.
Jelena was pregnant with the couple’s first child at the time of their wedding. Their son, Stefan, was born several months later in October 2014.
The marriage marked an important transition in their relationship. They had already spent years together while managing distance, education, and Novak’s growing tennis commitments. Marriage and parenthood created a new chapter for the couple.
In the years since, Novak and Jelena have continued to appear together at major tennis events and charitable activities. Their relationship has remained a visible part of Novak’s life away from competition.
Children & Family Life
Novak and Jelena Djokovic have two children: son Stefan and daughter Tara. Stefan was born on October 21, 2014, while Tara was born on September 2, 2017.
As of August 2026, Stefan is 11 years old and Tara is 8. The children occasionally accompany their parents at major tennis tournaments and have been seen supporting Novak from the stands.
Stefan has shown an interest in tennis and has practiced with his father. However, Novak has emphasized that he does not want to pressure his son into following the same professional path. He has said that the most important thing is for Stefan to enjoy what he chooses to do.
Tara has also appeared at tennis events but has shown interests beyond tennis, including ballet and gymnastics.
Family is an important part of Novak’s life. In a recent 2026 interview, he described Jelena as a major source of support while acknowledging the difficulties of balancing professional tennis with being a husband and father. He also highlighted communication, honesty, and transparency as important parts of their lasting relationship.
The family maintains a balance between public appearances and privacy. While photographs of them occasionally appear at major sporting events, Novak and Jelena generally keep many details of their children’s everyday lives away from the media.
Jelena Djokovic on Social Media
Jelena Djokovic maintains an active presence on Instagram through the account @jelenadjokovicndf. Her social media content focuses largely on family, parenting, education, philanthropy, personal reflections, and projects connected with the Novak Djokovic Foundation.
As of August 2026, an influencer-tracking source lists the account at approximately 845,000 followers.
Rather than using social media only to share glamorous celebrity moments, Jelena frequently uses her platform to discuss parenting and early childhood development. Her profile also connects followers with the Novak Djokovic Foundation, its educational work, and related initiatives.
Her online presence reflects the themes that dominate her professional life: learning, family, children’s development, philanthropy, and personal growth.
Quick Facts About Jelena Djokovic
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jelena Djokovic (née Ristic) |
| Date of Birth | June 17, 1986 |
| Nationality | Serbian |
| Profession | Businesswoman, philanthropist, education advocate |
| Married to | Novak Djokovic |
| Marriage Year | 2014 |
| Children | Stefan and Tara |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
Jelena was born in Belgrade and studied business administration and management at Bocconi University before earning a master’s degree in luxury goods and services at the International University of Monaco.
Today, her best-known professional role is global CEO and co-founder of the Novak Djokovic Foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Novak Djokovic’s Wife
Q: What is Novak Djokovic’s wife name?
A: Novak Djokovic’s wife is Jelena Djokovic, formerly known as Jelena Ristic.
They met in high school in Serbia and began dating in 2005.
Q: How old is Jelena Djokovic?
A: Jelena Djokovic was born on June 17, 1986, making her 40 years old as of August 2026.
She is one year older than her husband, Novak Djokovic, who was born on May 22, 1987.
Q: What does Jelena Djokovic do for a living?
A: Jelena Djokovic is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and education advocate.
She is the co-founder and global CEO of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which focuses on early childhood education.
Q: When did Novak Djokovic and Jelena Djokovic get married?
A: Novak Djokovic and Jelena Djokovic married on July 10, 2014, in Montenegro.
Their wedding took place at Sveti Stefan shortly after Novak won Wimbledon that year.
Q: How many kids do Novak Djokovic and Jelena Djokovic have?
A: Novak and Jelena Djokovic have two children, a son named Stefan and a daughter named Tara.
Stefan was born in 2014, while Tara was born in 2017.
Conclusion
Jelena Djokovic is much more than the wife of a tennis superstar. Born in Belgrade in 1986, she built an impressive academic background before becoming a businesswoman, philanthropist, and leading advocate for early childhood education. Her role as global CEO of the Novak Djokovic Foundation has made charitable work a central part of her professional identity.
Her relationship with Novak began when they were teenagers and survived years of distance, demanding tennis schedules, and major career changes. They married in 2014 and now share two children, Stefan and Tara.
For people searching for Novak Djokovic wife, Jelena’s story offers a look at the person who has shared one of tennis’s greatest journeys while building a meaningful career and philanthropic legacy of her own.
